Does he think we are dating?

I just got out of a relationship not too long ago and so did one of my buddies so we have been sticking by each others side the whole time. He told my best friend that he has feelings for me and has before as well, so with her permission I asked him about it and he was like “yeah, I liked you when we first met” and I was like “Then why didn’t you tell me?” and hes like “would it have made a difference” and I was like “I would have made more of an effort to get to know you” then he said “Well… I did like you, and I do now”. So we have been hanging out quite a bit lately, I guess you could say we are ‘seeing’ each other. Today I was asking my dad if he likes him and hes like “yeah hes nice but every time I think someone is nice you end up hurt” which is true. So I told the guy I like because he wanted to know what my dad thought of him and he was like… “if things don’t work out I still would love to be your friend”

Does that sound to you like he thinks we are in a relationship? I don’t see how things wouldn’t “work out” if we are just seeing each other… help?

(If it matters… I’m turning 19 in less than a month and he is 24 - don’t say hes too old for me, we are both mature adults and our families are fine with our age difference.)